Archive for May, 2013

Veteran–Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve. Whether combatant or not. A veteran is someone who at one point in his life (or hers) wrote a blank check to the citizens of the United States, for an amount “up to and including their life.” No one pushed them to that point. No one ‘made’ them do it. Honor is a good word to help us understand it. Valor seems like it should be in there. In all cases they stood at the door when or if the wolf growled.

I have a great fortune of brothers from several phases of life. My veteran family shares a known, unspoken bond. Especially those from the era in which we served. Happy Memorial Day to you. Happy Memorial Day to everyone.

This weekend, Mother’s Day weekend and his 50th Birthday weekend, my friend Joey Motsay of Greensboro, NC, set a new world record in the Guinness Book of Records. It’s his Third record by the way! However, his quest was for more than just the record. It was for more than just his third pint of Guinness Stout on his desk. He wanted to raise $50,000 on his 50th birthday by pushing a car 50 miles in under 24 hours. He Did It!! Hundreds of friends showed up to cheer him through the 24 hours and to watch him complete this unbelievable task. And it was all for someone else that Joey did this. Look up peacehavenfarm.com and you’ll see the reason. You can also make a contribution. Which I ask you to consider.

You have to be built of different stuff just to do the dang physical part of this! You have to be built of different stuff to want to help someone else by having done this magnificent fete.

What will you do to help? Look up Joey’s fete under Positive Stress Workout on the web. That’s the name of his gym/training facility in Greensboro.

I’m borrowing this from Success Magazine’s article about Dan Buettner’s research on 100 year old people. It is in the June 2013 issue and I suggest you read it. He lists 9 Habits shared by these people. Here are a few. Note how natural they are and how easily implemented they can be for each of us.

Know your purpose.

Find a de-stressing ritual.

Follow the 80% rule. Eat until you are 80% full.

Learn to love vegetables.

Pour a glass of wine.

Be part of a community

Put loved ones first

There are 2 more and each habit is briefly explained. Find it. Read it. For whatever reason this article has not just touched me, it made an impression. Instead of worrying about your freaking twitter feed pay attention to the small, meaningful things around us. I don’t know if 100 is a goal for me, but the lifestyle to get there makes infinitely great sense.

Where ever that term has its origins, it needs to return. It’s pure b.s. You may juggle several assignments, you may engage in breathing and looking at a bird, but you may NOT multi-task. Can’t do it. Isn’t happening. Won’t work. Isn’t productive!!!

The brain is not capable of multi-tasking. Can’t do it. Talking on a cell phone while driving is like driving drunk. Your reaction time is impaired. The brain Switches between tasks, it does not do two at once. It is a sequential processor. Large fractions of seconds are required switch between focal points and that is the reason for large numbers of wrecks with knotheads on their cell phones. Hang up and drive.

All of your cell phone, email, internet, MySpace, Instant Messaging is pure distraction. Research shows you are dumber while switching around in tasks than if you were stoned on weed. Your IQ is lower than when smoking. So when you are always online and always connected you are always distracted. Translation: You are NOT productive!!

So, if you or your company is always connected your numbers probably show it. Chances are you have significant challenges with time, team and money.

Freedom from anxiety. Freedom from nagging pressures. Freedom from self–doubt. Accomplishing put–off tasks will give you a great boost of confidence and energy!

This is a great article by Denis Waitley. I haven’t changed a word of what he said, it’s that good. Let me know what you think.

Here are seven techniques to overcome procrastination:

1. Take five minutes to identify what you are putting off. On a blank sheet of paper, note several important activities that you realize you are delaying or have put on hold.

2. Look at your list of tasks and do one of them right now.
Put the energy you’ve been directing toward excuses into the activity you’ve been avoiding. You’ll discover that action eliminates anxiety.

3. If getting started is the hard part for you, set a designated time slot in the day to work on the list.
Set aside thirty minutes of your lunch hour for work specifically on one job, project, or personal goal that you’ve been avoiding or find difficult to start.

4. Don’t worry about perfection.
What counts is quality of effort, not perfect results. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with a preoccupation for perfectionism.

5. If what you are putting off involves other people, consult with them.
Your reasons for delaying action may be imaginary. Lack of communication often turns molehills into mountains.

6. If you fear the consequences associated with the action you’ve been avoiding, ask yourself, What’s the worst thing that could happen If I did this today?
The worst–case scenario most likely would be a minor inconvenience or a temporary setback.